Envelop-sealing and stamp-affixing machine.



1.]. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. 1912.

Patented Sept. .14, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. .I. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. I912.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. J. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0.CT.29,1912.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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J. J. McDADE.

ENVE'LOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED-OCT. 29. 1912.

1 ,1 53.3%6. Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

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J. J. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, 1912- Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ribs.

ENVELOP-SEALING AND STAMP-AFFIXINGMACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 14, 1915..

Application filed October 29, 1912. I Serial No. 728,353.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN J. MCDADE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco,

State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop- Sealing and Stamp-Afiixing Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to machines for moistening and sealing envelops and aiiixing stamps thereto and more particularly to machines which are automatic in' operation and which perform the successive steps of sealing and stamping the envelop as it progresses through the machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described which is simple in construction and which operates with a high degree of efliciency and reliability.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the envelops are successively removed from the stack and simultaneously moistened.

A further object'of the invention is to provide regulating means governed by the presence or absence of an envelop for throwing the stamp aflixing mechanism into or out of operation.

The present machine comprises and the invention includes an improved feed-table wherebythe envelops into which the mail matter has been placed are maintained in such position that the forward or leading envelop is always in position to be extracted or removed from the stack and fed into the machine.

The device for extracting the envelops singly from the stack, which shall be hereinafter termed the extractor, engages under the flap of the leading envelop, lifting it from the stack and placingit between rollers which further advance it. The extractor is provided with a moistening device on that side against which the flap of the envelop rests, so that the gummed. surface thereon is moistened as the envelop is being extracted.

After passing through the first set. of rolls, the envelop is held in position to receive the stamp. The device for afiixing the stamp comprises a mechanism into which the stamps are fed from a roll, and which operates to moisten the leading stamp, tear it from the strip along the line of perforation and press it upon the envelop, after .which the envelop agaln passes between pressure rollers to insure sealing and the proper sticking of the stamp.

Another feature of the invention consists of an automatic control mechanism which throws the stamp afiixing mechanism out of operation during the non-passage of an en velop, thereby preventing any waste of" stamps. When the stamp aflixing device is in inoperative position, the passage of an 1 envelop causes the control mechanism to throw the stamp aliixer into operation.

The apparatus possesses other advantageous features which, 'with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration. in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. From this it will be apparent that I do notlimit myself'to the exact construction shown and described herein, since I may make many changes in construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to said drawings: Figure l is a plan or top view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine showing the extractor in the depressed position. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation showing the means for operating the stamping mechanism. Fig. 4: is an end view of the actuating devices shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the stamping mechanism cut-out, showing the parts in the positions taken when no envelop is passing through. the machine. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the position of the parts during the passage of an envelop.v Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail showing the envelop extractor in-its upper position. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the machine.

-The device comprises a suitable frame.

formed of the side members 23 in which the various rotating members are journaled and to which the relatively stationary parts are attached. The device is driven by the motor 41- mounted on the base 5, the shaft of which is provided with a worm 6 meshing with a gear 7 on the main drive shaft 8, from which movement is transmitted to the various elements by gears, cranks and other suitable devices.

Arranged between the side members 2-3 is an inclinedfeed-table 9 provided with a standing side 12 and with a lip 13 at the ular to thetable.

ranged on the table with the upper or flap edge upward and the fiapsfacing-toward lower end standing substantially perpendic- The envelops A are arthe lower or'take 0E end of the table, the

ends-of the envelops being alined. by the V standingside12. They are held in this substantially upright position by the lip 18 and "as the forward ones are removed the re- -mainder of the stack is advanced by the follower 14. The follower is provided with a lip 15 whichbears against thelatter envelop V andis slidably mounted upon a rod 16 ar ranged below the table. Attached to the follower is acord or chain 17 which passes over the roller 18 and to the depending end of which "is-attached a weight (not shown) which "operates. to move it forward. The

follower is also provided with a clamping screw 19, so that it may be clampedto the rod 16 when desirable.

Arranged adjacent the lower end of the feed table is an'up wa rdly and downwardly 1 movable extractor 21,whi'ch in its upward i feed table and placing the upper end there movement? engages under theflap of the leading'envelop 1A removing it from the of between the rolls 22- -23. The extractor is formed wedge shaped in cross section, the

the to press against this'face. On this faceisarranged a strip of fabric 2% or other absorbent material such as canvas or duck, the lower end 25 of which hes within the body of the extractor which is hollow, there by forming-a chamber therein. This chamber is partly filled with water which maintains the fabric in a continually moist con dition. As the extractor moves upward, the

I flap of envelop contacts with this moist surface thereby n oistening the gummed surface thereon.

: Arranged in the path of the envelop flap .is a freely swinging roller '26, mounted onthe links 27. the'envel'op is moved upward this roller bears against the flap and presses it against the moisture pad, thereby insuring the proper'moistening' of the flap.

The path ofthe upper edge ofthe extractor isin line with the point of tangency of'the rollers 22 23 and the envelop is delivered a rs Quito the rollers at the point of tangQ Y- e The extractor, moves ina plane substantially parallel to the plane of the envelops in the stack and the movement is accomplished by means of thelinks 28 which are attached at upper ends to stub shafts or projections" on opposite endsfof'the extractor and attheir lower erids to the cranks 29 secured to the main drive shaft. The stub shafts on the extractor engage in slots 31 in the side members which operate to guide the extractor in its proper path.

The friction between the envelops in the stack is at times sufiicient to cause the adjacent envelop to follow the leading one upward, thereby feeding two envelops to the rolls 22-23 at one time. To prevent this condition I have arranged above the stack, a small roll 32 having a friction surface, which rotates in the opposite direction to roller'23. The downwardly moving side of this roll is arranged so that it will contact with a second envelop A which tends to rise and prevent its further rise. This roll is so placed that it will halt the upward movement of the second envelop, before the lower edge thereof passes above the lip 13 on the feed table.

The rollers 2223 are driven from the main drive shaft through the train of gears 333l-35-363738 39, and the roll 32 is driven by the gear 41 meshing with gear 39. The shaft 42 of roller 23 is mounted in elongated apertures in the side members 23 and is connected to shaft 43 of roller 22 by springs 44, thereby allowing the rollers to move to conform to various thicknesses of envelops. The ends of the springs 14 are curved and bear in grooves on the shafts so that the shafts may rotate without affecting the tension. As the envelop passes upward between the rolls 2223 the upper edge thereof contacts with and is deflected forward by the guide plate 45 secured to the side plates and extending across the machine. This causes the envelop to lean forward, so that as the lower edge is released from the rolls 22-28, it falls over the roll 22 onto the plate 46 which guides it into a pocket formed between plate -16 and plate 17, the bottom of which is formed-by a shoulder or bend 48 in the plate 47. In this position the flap end of the en velop is at the bottom and addressed face is toward the stamp-aflixing device 50, with the upper right-hand corner of the envelop directly below or in line with the stamp-aflixing device. The stamp-aflixing device is then operated by means which will hereafter be described to properly afiix the stamp.

The plate 46 is pivotally attached at the upper corners to the side members 2-3 and its movement is controlled by the cam 51 secured to shaft 52 upon which gear 36 is mounted The various driving gears are so proportioned that the shaft 52 makes one complete revolution for a complete reciprocation of the extractor. The cam 51 is so placed with relation to the movement of the envelop through the device that it operates to move the plate i6 forward to form a pocket with plate 4:7 before the envelop is which the shaft 52 passes. The slide 63 terdischarged from the rolls 22--28. The

plate 4E6 then acts as a backing for theenvelop during the stamp afiixing operation. When the stamp has been affixed, the cam has moved sufficiently to allow the plate 46 to swing backward by gravity, opening the bottom of the pocket and allowing the stamped envelop to drop therefrom.

The envelop is dropped between the'pressure rolls 54.-55 which are provided with driving gears 5634, and in passing through these rolls the stamp is pressed firmly against the envelop, insuring its adhesion and the envelop is sealed. These rolls are pressed together by springs 57 in the same manner as rolls 2223. The shaft of roll 55 is arranged lower than that of roll 54: so that the envelop is discharged parallel to chute 58, along which it slides into a suitable receptacle. I

The stamp afiiXing mechanism 50 is operated by the cam 61 secured to the shaft 52, preferably on the outside of the casing or side members. The cam 61 is normally engaged by a roller 62 mounted upon the slide 63 which is provided with a slot through minates at its outer end in the cross-head 6a to which is fixed the actuating plunger 65 of the stamp affixing mechanism. Fixedupon the frame of the machine is a rod 66 which isslidable through the cross-head, the rod being encircled by a spiral-spring 67 which operates to move the cross-head outward after it has been moved inward by the cam 61. The stamp-affixing mechanism draws stamps from the roll 68 which is inclosed within the locked casing 69 and affixes them to the successive envelops. Water for moistening the stamps as they are severed from the strip is contained in the reservoir 71 from which it passes to the moistening device of the stamp-afiixer. The construction of the stamp afiixing mechanism isfully set forth in my patent No. 1,070,277 issued August 12, 1918, to which reference may be had for a more detailed description thereof.

A counter or indicating device 72 is provided for registering the number of stamps used. The counter is mounted on the frame adjacent the slide 63 and is provided with a star-wheel 73 which is engaged by the finger 7% on the slide on the forward movement thereof. On the return movement the finger trips past the star-wheel without causing any movement thereof.

Means are provided for throwing the stamping mechanism out of operation during the non-passage of an envelop through the machine, so that the stamps will not be wasted. This means operates to move the roller 62 out of engagement with the cam 61, so that the rotation of the cam will not operate the slide 63.

Mounted upon shaft l3 is a roller 75, of

the same. v diameter as the rollers 22-23, which is provided with a slot 76. Arranged adJacent said roller and adapted tobear against the same when no'envelop is inter-.

posed is a roller 77, of less width than the slot, mounted upon the slide 78. When an envelop-is passing through the rollers 22- 23, the roller 77 is prevented from moving. into the slot 76, but when no envelop 1s pass- Y ing it moves into the slot. The slide 78 carrying the roller 77 is pressed forward toward the roller by the spring 79, and its forward and backward movement is guided by the shafts 4:2 and 81 which pass through slots in the slide. .The shaft 81 is rotated by the gear 82 thereon, of the same size as.

and mes'hingwith gear 39 on shaft 42,. so that the two shafts rotate at the same speed.

Secured to shaft81 is a plate 83 having cams 8a and 85 formed on the opposite sides thereof. Engaging the cam 8. L is a roller .86

mounted on the slide 78. The cam 84 is provided with a depressed portion 87 which registers with the roller 86, when the roller 77 registers with the slot 76 in 'roller 75 thereby allowing the roller 77 to move into the slot when no envelop is present. As the roller 86 rides up onto the high face of the slide 78. The plunger 88 is spring held in thetube 89 and is provided at its outer end with a head 91. The cam 85 is so placed with relation to the depressed portion 87 of cam 84, that, when the roller 86 enters the depressed portion, the plunger 88 engages the inclined surface of the cam 85 before the slide 78 is moved backward by the roller 86 riding up on the high face of the cam 84. The head 91 engages the inclined edge 92 of cam 85 causing the plunger and tube 89 to 119 be moved laterally about its pivot. The head 91 prevents theplunger from becoming disengaged from the edge of the cam as the slide 78 is moved backward by the cam 84;, the plunger in this case being moved out-,

ward from the tube against the pull of the spring. r

When an envelop is passing between the rolls 22-23, the slide 78 cannot move forward and therefore the head of the plunger 12% is held out of the path of the cam .85 and is not affected thereby. It follows, therefore, that when no envelop passes between the rollers 22-23, the control mechanism operates to move the tube 89 laterally or to move it about its pivot, whereas, when an envelop is passing there is no movement of the tube. V

Secured to the tube 89--is an arm 93 which extends through the side casing of the machine and contacts with a lever 94 vpivoted intermediate its ends to the frame. At its 7 lower endthe lever 94 bearsagainst themner end of slide 63 which end is pressedioutmm from the frame and against the lever 94 by'the spring:95.' The spring 95, therefore, tends to hold the slide 63 in such position that the roller '62- will lie in the path of the cam 61. V

WVhen the arm 93 moves outward under the influence of the cam '85, the lever 9a presses the inner end of the slide 63 to-.

ward the frameof the machine,'thereby moving the roller 62 out .of the path .of the cam 61. This movement of theslide takes place at 'thetime when the roller 62 is at the low or concentric face of the cam, so that the slide 63 is not operated. The cam is pro- 7 vided along its inner edge at the eccentric portion with. a standing side 96 which preventsthe roller 62 from becoming disengaged after it engages the eccentric face of tened envelop to said rollers, a guide arranged adjacent saidrollers adapted to deflect the envelop .as it is discharged therefrom, a pocket adapted to receive said env velop, means for afiixing a stamp-to saidenvelop, and means for opening said pocket and discharging the envelop therefrom after I the stamp hasbeen affixed.

3. In a machine. of the class described, -a pair of feed rollers, means for simultaneously moisteninguand feeding an envelop to saidrollers, a guide arranged adjacent said rollers adapted'to deflect the envelop 'as it is discharged therefrom, a pocket adapted to receive said envelop, means .forailixing a stamp thereto, means for opening srsaid pocket :and discharging the envelop therefrom after the stamp has been aflixed, and a pair of pressurerollers arranged below said pocket, between WhlChItllG envelop passes.

4. In a machine of the class described, a fixed plate having an oflset thereon, a movable plate coacting therewith adapted to form apocket, a stamp affixing device arranged adjaeentsaid pocket and-means cooperating with said stamp "affixing means to open the pocket after the stamp :afiixing mechanism has operated. a

5. Ina machine of the class described, a

pair'of feed rollers between which an en-- velop is adapted to pass, means for aflixing a stamp to-said envelop after it is discharged from said feed rollers, a slide operating said stamp affixing means, a shaft operatively connected with said feed rollers arranged in inoperative relation with said slide, and means operative by the passage of an envelop between-said rollers to place the shaft and slide in operative relation.

6. In a machine of the class described, a pair of feed rollers between which an envelop is adapted to pass, means for affixing a stamp to said envelop after it is discharged from said feed rollers, a slide operating said stamp aiiiXing means, a roller on said slide, a shaft operatively connected with said feed rollers, a cam on said shaft adaptedto engage said roller and means operative by the non-passage of an envelop through said feed rollers to move the roller out of operative relation with the cam.

7 In a machine of the class described, a pair of rollers between which an envelop is adapted to pass, one of said rollers being provided with a slot, a slide upon which the other roller is mounted, said roller being adapted to enter said slot when no envelop is interposed, a stamp aflixing mechanism and means operated by the interposition of an envelop for placing the rollers and the stamp affixing mechanism in operative relation.

8. In a machine of the class described, a pair of feed rollers between which the envelop is adapted to pass, means for aflixing a stamp to the envelop after it is discharged from the feed rollers, unitary mechanism for driving said feed rollers and stamping mechanism, and means operative by the nonpassage of an envelop between said feed rollers for throwing the stamp aflixing means out of operative relation with the driving mechanism, said means comprising a slide which is permitted to move longitudinally during said non-passage, a plunger carried by said slide in its longitudinal movement into contact with a cam, the cam being adapted to move the plunger laterally, andmeans operative by said lateral movement for disconnecting the stamp aflixer mechanism from the driving mechanism.

9 In a machine of the class described, a pair of rollers between which an envelop is adapted to pass, one of said rollers being provided with a slot and the other being of smaller width than said slot and adapted to enter said slot, a slide on which said second roller is mounted, means for driving said first mentioned roller, a stamp afiixin g mechanism and means intermittently connecting said mechanism with the driving means, a revoluble plate connected to said driving means, means on said plate for permitting the latter roller to move into the slot on the i F 15 i.

first at a given time, a plunger carried by said slide, a cam on said plate adapted to be engaged by said plunger when the latter roller engages in the slot in the former, said cam being arranged to move said plunger laterally, an arm in operative relation with said plunger and means operative by the lateral movement of said arm to throw the stamp affixing device out. of operative relation with the driving means.

10. In a machine of the class described, a pocket, means for sealing an envelop and delivering it to said pocket, means for aifixing a stamp to said envelop, and means for opening said pocket and discharging the envelop therefrom after the stamp has been affixed.

11. In a machine of the class described, a shoulder, means for delivering a sealed envelop to said shoulder, a backing plate adapted to support the envelop on said shoulder, means for affixing a stamp to said envelop, and means for moving said backing plate to allow the envelop to discharge from said shoulder after the stamp has been aflixed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 24th day of October 1912.

JOHN J. MODADE.

In presence of H. G." Pnos'r, M. LE CoNTE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Fatents, Washington, D. G. 

